UK NHS invitation to end your career.

One should be very careful about even gentle criticism (even if cordially invited) of those with authority and power over one's career and financial future (the employer).

The lie:

Whistleblowing: raising concerns at work 14/02/2013 NHS Employers supports NHS organisations to promote a climate of openness, in which staff feel free to raise concerns in a reasonable and responsible way, without fear of victimisation.Be very careful

The NHS in the UK has invited nurses (and presumably other health workers) to 'raise concerns'.

Most employees do not realise, until it is too late, that 'raising concerns' with your boss or management is actually whistleblowing. You might think you are raising concerns as a normal part of your work and out of loyalty to the organisation, but if the problem you have 'concerns about' reflects badly on anyone (maybe it suits them or maybe they should have done something about it earlier etc) they will just consider you a dobber and a snitch and decide to get rid of you.

Getting rid of you is relatively easy. There will be policies and procedures and guidelines that can be used as blunt weapons of your destuction. They can put you on performance improvement plans or disciplinary investigations till the cows come home and because these are confidential processes they isolate you from the support of your colleagues. Do you have any legal rights. Yes and No. Yes you appear to have some, but someone like the NHS has unlimited money to pay lawyers to keep you paying your lawyer till you are bankrupt. And No because there are no adequate whistleblower protection laws. They will argue that you 'raised you concerns' to the wrong person, in the wrong way, at the wrong time, in the wrong form, for the wrong reason. Any tiny deviation from policy and you lose.

And the employer has the last laugh. Even if you go all the way to the wire and win they will finally offer you a small sum that comes with a gagging clause; they pay you a small sum and you can never again mention the facts of your case to anyone. In the meantime your career, your house and your spouse (who cannot understand why you did this destructive act to the family) will be gone.

Sometimes, one has to admit, it is not quite as bad as this. The clever get a new job before they blow the whistle; the wise blow the whistle anonymously.

Rule One: Don't criticise those who have power over you, even if they invite you to, or they will cut you off at the knees.

Anonymous whistleblowing is much safer. Talk to journalists face to face (use a landline (not a mobile) to set up the meeting) or find an online 'drop-box' and remember to use TOR. This is explained here (click here).